Increase to Customs Fees
On November 1, 2017, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced in a Federal Register notice that certain customs user fees would increase for fiscal year 2018, including the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF).
The adjustments calculated in the various fees are reflected by inflation. The new minimum MPF will be calculated at $25.67 (for formal entries), $2.05 (for informals) and the new maximum MPF will be calculated at $497.99
And, as is current law, if your goods qualify for a Free Trade Agreement, they may be eligible to have the MPF waived.
The official Federal Register notice may be found at HERE or Customs Messaging System HERE
GSP Expiring
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Due to Expire December 31, 2017
Barring Congressional action, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), special program indicator (SPI) “A,” “A+” and “A*” will expire for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse after midnight, December 31, 2017.
In the event of a lapse and until further notice, importers are strongly encouraged to continue to flag GSP-eligible importations with the SPI “A,” even as they pay normal trade relations (column 1) duty rates on otherwise GSP-eligible importations. Importers may not file SPI "A" without duties.
CBP is working to have programming in place that, in the event that GSP is renewed with a retroactive refund clause, will allow CBP to automate the duty refund process.
CBP will continue to allow post-importation GSP claims made via post summary correction (PSC) and protest (19 USC 1514, 19 CFR 174) subsequent to the expiration of GSP, for importations made while GSP was still in effect. CBP will not allow post-importation GSP claims made via PSC or protest subsequent to the expiration of GSP, for importations made subsequent to expiration.